Cataract & Dry Eye Syndrome - What you should know.

Cataract  and Dry Eye Syndrome - What You Should Know You just had cataract surgery, and now you have dry eyes.  Are these 2 things related? The following study wanted to investigate how many people undergoing cataract surgery already had dry eye disease before the surgery.  Knowing this can help better manage both the cataract surgery and dry eye disease for better outcomes.  Read on.

In 2011, William Trattler, MD conducted a study of 143 prospective cataract patients in 9 centers across the country. The patients were evaluated on: Tear Break Up Time (TBUT),  Schirmer’s scores, International Task Force (ITF) grading,  Cconjunctival staining and corneal staining.  The results were profound in the prevalence of dry eye in these cataract patients. 80.9% of the patients had a level 2, level 3 or level 4 dry eyes according to ITF guidelines. Yet only 22.1% had previously received a diagnosis of dry eyes. 62.9% had an abnormal TBUT of less than 5 seconds. 76.8% had corneal staining and 50% had central corneal staining. 21.9% of the patients had an abnormal Schirmer’s score of less than 5mm.  This study demonstrated that the prevalence of dry eye in cataract patients is very high and the recognition and subsequent diagnosis of the dry eye prior to referral of cataract surgery is very low.

Treat Your Dry Eyes Before Cataract Surgery. 

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Cheaper Way to Unclog Meibomian Oil Glands- Debridement Scaling

Cheaper Way To Unclog Meibomian Oil Glands- Debridement Scaling

Clogged meibomian glands is a major problem in people with chronic dry eye disease. The meibomian glands gets inflamed and clog up the pores to prevent lubricants from flowing.  

At TheraLife, we recommended the following regimen to treat MGD:

11. TheraLife Eye to revitalize tear secretion glands, including meibomian glands.  -

22.     Hot compress- twice a day, 10 minutes each time, followed by eye lid cleansing.  
33. Use steroid drops to stop inflammation when the condition becomes severe. 
4
Yourt eye doctor may recommend IPL (Intense Pulse Light) or LipiFlow- both are 10 minute heat treatment for your eye lids, costs not covered by your health insurance.   If your oil glands are severely clogged, these procedures may not work for you.  We recommend you find out how severely clogged your oil glands are before spending the money.

You may want to consider Lid Margin Debridement - an inexpensive way to unclog oil glands.

Over time, the meibomian glands tend to accumulate dead epithelial cells (just like dead skin cells) around the eye lid, making it impossible for the natural lubricants to flow out.

Lid Margin Debridement - Scraping and cleaning meibomian glands

Watch a video on lid margin debridement

This  new simple procedure uses a lid paddle to gently scrap along the eye lids to remove the dead epithelial cells and open up the meibomian glands.  One maybe able to see the fluid flow out immediately.

At ARVO meeting 2013, a small study by Drs. Caroline Blackie and Donald Korb was presented on lid margin debridement.  At one month post-treatment, patients reported a significant improvement in dry eye symptoms.  The researchers showed there is an increase in the number of functional meibomian glands. This appears to be a promising development in MGD therapy

  TherraLife Can Help

 Try using TheraLife Eye to keep all your tear secretion glands open and healthy.  Stop the vicious cycle of dry eyes, inflammation and inactive tear secretion glands.  Get your life back on track today.

Learn more about MGD

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Call and talk to a doctor toll free 1-877-917-1989 US/Canada, International  (650) 949-6080, email: info@theralife.com

Anti-Aging Cream Can Cause Severe Dry Eye Disease & MGD

Anti-Aging Cream Can Cause Severe Dry Eye Disease & MGD

Key Take Away Here Is - Don't Use Anti-Aging Cream Around your Eyes!

It has been speculated for a long time that a medication that treats acne called 13-cis retinoic acid (RA) – commercially known as "Accutane", causes dry eyes in young adults.  This dry eye syndrome is one of the most difficult to treat.  By this time, eyes are constantly irritated, can’t wear contact lenses, eye drops do not help.

We have known adults in their 40’s and 50’s who used Accutane at some time of your life still has dry eyes.  Just cannot shake it.

Studies show the key ingredients RA is also in anti-aging creams to be used around the eyes, which maybe causing Meibomina Gland Dynsfunction.

A group of researchers at Ohio State University looked at the effect of RA in various dosages and at different time points to cell viability (cellular health and levels of activities).  They showed RA inhibited cell proliferation (growth), increased cell death, altered gene- expression ( could cause cancer), and promoted inflammatory mediators and protease expression in meibomian gland epithelial cells. Basically the meibomian gland cells are also tuned down at the same time to stop acne formation on the skin.

This is an abstract from IOVS June 2013 54:4341-4350; published ahead of print May 30, 2013, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

The use of TheraLife Eye plus hot compress, eye lid cleaning and Omega 3 Fish Oil can revitalize meibomian glands intra-cellulary and relief dry eyes.
TheraLife Eye capsules is all natural- patented formula to help you produce your own balanced tears for dry eye relief.  No more drops.  Get started today. 

What To Do When Glaucoma Meds Cause Dry Eyes

What To Do When Glaucoma Medications Cause Dry Eyes

People on topical glaucoma medications can development dry eye disease.  For severe cases, multiple glaucoma medications are used.   With increasing research showing a relationship between meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and glaucoma therapy, therefore, it is necessary that people with glaucoma patients get  evaluation for dry eye disease at every exam. This evaluation should include meibomian gland evaluation with both expression (squeeze)  and gland imaging using , LipiView, Meibography or transillumination.2,3

What To Do For Dry Eyes

If dry eye is diagnosed according to TFOS DEWS II criteria,  Reduced tear volume using TBUT (Tear Breakup Time), hyperosmolarity ( too salty) , or corneal and conjunctival staining with vital dye testing.  If results indicate severe dry eyes, alternative approaches should be considered.    Use of a prostaglandin analogue (PGA) could present with symptoms of dry eye and decreased TBUT due to the known obstruction of the meibomian glands often associated with these medications.3 Changing the class of medication for this patient could very well improve gland function, tear stability, and symptoms.

In the case where a topical beta blocker is used and presented with corneal staining and symptoms of dry eye. The person could have decreased aqueous production as a result of the beta blocker and/or corneal epithelial breakdown from exposure to the BAK preservative. For this type of people, consider changing to a preservative-free formulation, or to a non-preserved PGA such as Zioptan (with close evaluation of the meibomian glands), or even to a PGA with an alternate preservative such as Travatan Z, in order to continue with the ease of a once-daily dosing schedule.

For the dry eye patient who is taking multiple glaucoma medications, consider recommending surgical treatments such as SLT or MIGS in attempts to reduce the overall medication and preservative load. When surgery isn't an option or medications cannot be changed, elect to treat the dry eye disease in conjunction with their glaucoma management. Consider thermal pulsation therapy (IPL) for obstructive MGD combined with topical therapies such as TheraLife Eye capsules to control inflammation. Helping to maintain quality of life for people is important. Specifically, for our glaucoma patients, the medications used to treat their disease can often worsen their quality of life and contribute to poor medication adherence. It is therefore imperative to monitor for dry eye disease for all glaucoma patients at every visit. 

TheraLife Can Help

TheraLife Eye capsules help you produce your own tears for dry eye relief.  All natural, 100% Guaranteed.

Call us toll free to talk to a doctor  1-8787-917-1989  US/Canada,  International (650) 949-6080

References:
1. TFOS DEWS II iatrogenic report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):511-538. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.004. Epub 2017 Jul 20.
2. Uzunosmanoglu E1, Mocan MC, Kocabeyoglu S, Karakaya J, Irkec MMeibomian Gland Dysfunction in Patients Receiving Long-Term Glaucoma Medications. Cornea. 2016 Aug;35(8):1112-6.
3. Mocan MC1, Uzunosmanoglu E, Kocabeyoglu S, Karakaya J, Irkec M.The Association of Chronic Topical Prostaglandin Analog Use With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. J Glaucoma. 2016 Sep;25(9):770-774.

Why are dry eyes so traumatic in winter?

Why are Dry Eyes so Traumatic in Winter?

In the midst of winter weather, we will see an increasing amount of episodic dry eye. Symptoms tend to emerge with the dry winter air, using defrosters in cars, and the blasting heat in our homes and businesses. This can affect all of your people with dry eyes, but in particular exacerbate those marginal dry eye people by increasing the stress on the surface pof your eyes.  These episodic dry eye people will sometimes chose not to treat because of several reasons: it’s not time for their eye exam when the symptoms are occurring, or the symptoms come and go and are forgotten at the time of the eye exam. Questionnaires It is so important to evaluate episodic dry eye through a questionnaire. Whether it is the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) by Johnson & Johnson Tear Science or the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) by Allergan Pharmaceuticals, a questionnaire should be utilized to identify those patients experiencing occasional episodes of dry eye.This way, dry eyes can begin treatment at an earlier point, before the disease process continues to evolve and becomes a full-time affliction. Inflammation begets more inflammation and without taking action to address the inflammation we know clinically the disease process has a tendency to progress. Early Identification Earlier identification, even if the patient decides not to pursue treatment, will advise that you have identified a condition that is in need of dry eye treatment and is likely to progress if not addressed. people need to hear that the eye doctors have identified a potentially progressive disease process, Earlier treatment usually leads to quicker results with less intervention, as in almost any disease process. Identifying lid disorders such as MGD ( Medibomian Gland Dysfunction - clogging of the oil glands at the eye lids) at an earlier point will almost always be easier to treat with fairly minimal treatments such as  warm compress (Bruder or Gel Masks) ), as well as a good lid hygiene product (Avenova). Using a good supplement to address inflammation and increase tear production such as an Omega 6/Omega3 combination (Theralife Eye capsules) will also be great entry-level treatment. Some eye doctors will use a therapeutic such as Xiidra (Shire) or Restasis (Allergan) will also address the inflammation in a rapid manner. Getting episodic dry eye disease under control is key.  Learn more about TheraLife.  Help restore and revive your own tears for sustainable relief all day long.  No more drops.  Call Toll Free 1-877-917-1989  US/Canada

New Tests for Early Sjogren's Diagnosis

New Tests For Early Sjogren's Diagnosis

The hallmarks of Sjogren's Syndrome are severe dry eyes and dry mouth. It is an autoimmune disease where eventually the salivary and tear secretion glands can be killed and beyond rescue.  Now there are new antibodies that may allow diagnoses to be made early so appropriate treatments can start and prevent these irreversible damages.

These new antibodies are:

1.  SS- to salivary gland protein

2 CA6 - to caronic anhydrase 6

3. PSP- to paratoid secretory protein

The new antibodies were seen in 45 % of patients who met most of the clinical criteria for Sjogren’s except for the antibodies currently required for diagnosis, called Ro and La.

At least one of the novel antibodies is present in 76 % of patients who have had symptoms for less than two years and who also lacked the two antibodies required for definitive diagnosis, which appear late in the disease.

“The vast majority of patients we tested who have early symptoms of severe dry mouth and dry eyes also have these antibodies.

Sjogren’s Syndrome affects more than 4 million Americans, 90 % of whom are women. Last year, tennis champion Venus Williams announced that she had the disease.

Symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth so severe that they are painful.  The disease is also associated with kidney and lung disease, lymphoma, cancer of the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that is continually produced in Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Once the new antibodies were detected in mice, the scientists started testing human patients at Buffalo General Medical Center. The researchers found the same antibodies in humans even at early stages of the disease.

This is an abstract from the Clinical Immunology, Volume 145, Issue 3, December 2012, Pages 251–255

What Causes Watery Dry Eyes?

What Causes Watery Dry Eyes? 

Do you have watery eyes?  Yet your eye doctor tells you that you have dry eyes.  How can that be?

Frustrated?  Learn what causes watery eyes and how TheraLife can help. 

Reasons for your watery eyes

You probably had dry eyes for a long time, and your eyes did not get relief.  Now your have Reflux tears to help you provide moisture for dry eye relief.  Unfortunately, reflux tears ( the tear your cry with) is of poor quality.  Not thick enough to protect your eyes, making your eyes drier and drier.  This is similar to frequent use of eye drops, washing away your natural lubricants your eyes produce. 

Causes for watery eyes

1.  Allergies - especially seasonal allergies.  Allergies to pollen, dust mites, pet dander etc. will cause eyes to water.  Best remedy is to use an over the counter anti-histamine like Claritin or Zertac.  Consult your allergist about desensitization if your allergy is more serious.

2.  Blocked tear ducts- tear ducts are too narrow or blocked due to inflammation or swelling.  Eye infection can cause watery eyes afterwards.

3. Chronic dry eyes - dry eyes left untreated for a long time causing you to produce reflux tears.  Reflux tears ( the tear you cry with ) are of poor quality and serves to wash your eye balls clear of natural lubricants causing your tears to evaporate too quickly.  This is similar to using too many eye drops.

Treatment your Watery Dry Eyes with TheraLife Eye

TheraLife Eye stimulate your tear secretion glands to over come inflammation and restore normal function- resulting in balanced sustainable tears all day long.  Get relief today.

Watery dry eyes will take longer to relief because we need to first treat your dry eyes, then train your brain not to cry.  Call us for more details 1-877-917-1989